Table of Contents
The Best Scented Candles for 2023
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST SCENTED CANDLES
Before the pandemic, you’d never hear me talking about a candle. Granted, I was barely at my house, so those things were never part of my short-lived home-decorating endeavors.
The rise of Pinterest-worthy dens and small home decor shops during the pandemic is no surprise. If we’re going to be stuck at home indefinitely, we might as well make ourselves comfortable. That includes making living areas cozier than ever — and Zoom-background friendly, at that.
I wanted my space to be a safe haven, and adding a few candles here and there instantly created the vibe. They make any space feel more sacred. Lighting a candle is almost like flicking a switch that signals your brain to unwind — whether it’s a floral rose scent, a strong Siberian pine, or a cashmere wood with a hint of pimento berry and white amber, I’ve burned through different candles in the span of just a few months, all in the name of curating the perfect ambiance.
If you haven’t hopped on the trend yet, it’s never too late. Here are the best-scented candles in the market that will make you never want to leave the house.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SCENTED CANDLES?
Editor's Choice  Best Overall |  Best Hand-Poured Candle |  Best Local Candle |
Diptyque Baies/Berries Scented CandleDiptyque Baies/Berries Scented Candle has a long burn time that fills the room and has a charming nostalgic scent. | Le Labo Santal 26If you love the earthy scent, this hand-poured Le Labo Santal 26 is the candle for you! This woody and comforting scent lasts long and completely fills the room. | Sunday Zen Zodiac CandlesLove supporting local? The Sunday Zen Zodiac Candles offers a distinct scent for each astrological sign. It has a minimalist design and it's also affordable! |
Functionality:
Quality:
Price: | Functionality:
Quality:
Price: | Functionality:
Quality:
Price: |
LET’S GO OVER EACH SCENTED CANDLE
#1: DIPTYQUE BAIES/BERRIES SCENTED CANDLE
Not all scents are created equal. If you’re looking for a luxurious fragrance that any house guest is bound to love, the Diptyque Baies/Berries is the perfect blend of unfamiliar and inviting.
Turn any indoor living space into a beautiful garden with this candle’s floral notes that feature the scents of blackcurrants and Bulgarian roses.
With 60 hours of burn time in a medium-sized jar, the Baies/Berries make the perfect quarantine home accessory and the long-lasting candle you go to when you just want to stop stressing for a while.
I burned through mine quite quickly, and I loved that the wick could be easily trimmed with just your fingers. The scent was also strong enough to cover the smell of food cooking from the room beside it, which I appreciated.
PROS AND CONS OF THE DIPTYQUE BAIES/BERRIES SCENTED CANDLE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Fruity scents ✔️ Long burn time ✔️ Room-filling candle | ✖️ Pricey |
#2: LE LABO SANTAL 26
If we’re throwing around luxury names in the candle biz, you simply can’t forget Le Labo. The high-end brand is known for its poured-by-hand, vegan soy wax candles that feature a unique blend of aroma combinations, fun jars, and iconic packaging with your name on it.
Their Santal 26 is the leathery, aromatic member of the family perfect for enhancing the ambiance of any area. We know not everyone is a fan of citrusy scents, so if you prefer a woodsy vibe to your home, then this is it.
You get notes of vanilla, amber, cocoa, sandalwood, cedar, and musk. The scent throw is immaculate and the fragrance fills the room even at a distance, so I really love using this for a large, open space.
The burn is even and clean, and you won’t have to worry about nasty chemicals because the recipe is free of parabens and preservatives. Did we mention the Santal 26 is Taylor Swift and Beyonce-approved, too?
PROS AND CONS OF THE LE LABO SANTAL 26
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Perfect candle for the coffee table ✔️ Lovely scents of sandalwood, amber, cocoa, vanilla ✔️ Woody notes for a cozy space ✔️ Great scent throw ✔️ Vegan soy recipe | ✖️ Expensive ✖️ Tunneling issues |
#3: SUNDAY ZEN ZODIAC CANDLES
Astrology is an ancient practice that has become the craze in recent years—so much so that local brand Sunday Zen has created an entire candle line inspired by the 12 zodiac signs.
Whether you’re a feisty Aries or a practical Virgo, there’s a scent here tailor suited to your personality and tastes. Some examples of their unique best-selling candle blends are bubbly melon for Sagittarius, honeysuckle, davana for Taurus, vanilla, sandalwood for Cancer, and so many more cozy scents.
The Sunday Zen Zodiac Candles are also made of local ingredients, each hand-poured into a beautiful minimalistic black jar that can be placed in almost any room in your home to instantly make it more comfortable and zen. Made with 100% soy wax, the burn is clean so as not to promote any harmful chemicals.
The wooden wick also ensures that each burn of the candle is even. As for scent throw, the aroma can definitely penetrate a room quite quickly without being too harsh.
PROS AND CONS OF THE SUNDAY ZEN ZODIAC
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Unique blend of fragrances ✔️ Local brand made of 100% soy wax ✔️ Personalized scents ✔️ Clean, even burn that lasts 40 hours | ✖️ Limited sizes |
#4: JO MALONE LIME BASIL & MANDARIN CANDLE
Fragrance aficionados, rejoice. Jo Malone’s signature aroma, Lime Basil and Mandarin, also exists in candle form in all its unique, spicy scents. Do take note that we all process scents differently, so a strong fragrance for you might not be as strong for someone else.
Since Jo Malone candles are known to be crazy expensive, I was glad that this one was worth the price — I haven’t even lit the candle yet and it already filled up the room.
I will say it’s not the best aroma for an “untrained nose,” but those who have a wider fragrance palette will appreciate the notes of amberwood and basil. Gift it to a candle-loving friend and watch their eyes light up!
PROS AND CONS OF THE JO MALONE LIME BASIL & MANDARIN
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Unique citrus scents ✔️ Incredibly fragrant with an impressive scent throw ✔️ Great year-round home smell | ✖️ Candle burns can be uneven ✖️ Expensive price |
#5: BATH & BODY WORKS WHITE BARN VANILLA BEAN 3-WICK CANDLE
If you hate overwhelming smells, you might want to go for this tried-and-tested scent to fill your room. Others say it’s underwhelming, we say it’s ideal for giving any room a subtle scent that won’t assault the senses.
Bath & Body Works is my intro to the world of fragrances, including beautiful-smelling lotions, colognes, shower gels, you name it.
So suffice it to say that the Vanilla Bean is a great entry point if you want to really get into the world of scented candles. Having 3 wicks makes it less likely to tunnel as well.
PROS AND CONS OF THE BATH & BODY WORKS WHITE BARN VANILLA 3-WICK CANDLE
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Light nostalgic scent, ideal home fragrance ✔️ Larger scent radius ✔️ Less likely to tunnel, burns evenly ✔️ Soy wax blend | ✖️ Can be too one-note |
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SCENTED CANDLE
Want your candle to burn just a little bit longer? Your wish is our command. Here are some handy tips to keep in mind when lighting your favorite scent.
FIRST BURN LASTS
What often happens with candles is a pool of uneven wax around the edges that never goes away. This is called tunneling, and it occurs when you put the light out before the entire candle surface becomes molten. To avoid this, leave your candle on for around 2-3 hours on the first burn. That way, the wax surface stays nice and even.
TRIM THE WICK
Trim the wick to at least 3mm before lighting it to ensure a clean burn. It’s a good idea to keep a wick trimmer with you for when your scissors won’t cut it.
NO CANDLE LEFT UNATTENDED
Finally, don’t fall asleep or leave your house with a candle still burning somewhere in a corner. You might be tempted to come home to the smell of sandalwood wafting through the doors, but it’s not worth the fire hazard.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the best brand of scented candles?
While our list covers some of the best brands out there, other honorable mentions include:
- Volcano Candle – Capri Blue
- Boy Smells. Their Kush scent is a bestseller. Don’t let the name fool you, though — it’s less teenager’s bedroom and more sophisticated flower.
- P.F. Candle Co. There are plenty of goodies to love from PF Candle Co, but their Amber & Moss variant is a clear bestseller. They also have a scent of fresh-cut gardenia and dark chocolate.
- Aromatherapy Associates. Their De-Stress Candle says it all.
- Jonathan Adler. Try Jonathan Adler’s Champagne variant for your dose of pink grapefruit and rosy cassis.
- Kith x Malin + Goetz Vapor Candle. Pink pepper and fresh snow are the combinations you never knew you needed until you tried it.
What are the most luxurious candles?
If you’re going to splurge on something, candles are the way to go. We’ve actually included a few “luxury” pieces on this list (peep that Le Labo and Diptyque!), but if you’re craving for more, then check out the Abd El Kader from Cire Trudon, the oldest candlemaker in the world. It’s a beautiful minty fragrance in a jar that is just as elegant as the scent — the perfect conversation starter.
Another recommendation we have is the L’Objet Lapis Candle, a stunning candle that comes in a bright lapis blue jar hand-painted with 24k gold accents. On the lid sits a semi-precious blue stone that makes the $150 price tag worth every penny. Even when the candle is long burned out, you’ll want to keep this trinket holder with you for good.
Are Yankee candles really better?
For their average price, some may question whether Yankee Candles really are worth it. It depends on who you ask: those who value the art of candlemaking will tell you that the longevity and quality of materials used justify the price tag. But for some, it doesn’t really make a difference and they’ll tell you to go for a dupe instead.
Among the advantages of Yankee Candles named by its enthusiasts are a longer burn, better wick quality, a variety of scents, no synthetic fragrances, and a wide scent radius. Each one is created and maintained to last longer than your usual candles.
Which candles are the most fragrant?
There are a lot of extremely fragrant candle smells, but the best-smelling candle is Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works candle. These jar candle and soy candle brand gives off strong spicy scents yet at the same time smells cozy.
What candle brand smells the most fragrant when burned?
The smell of a burnt candle gives off a calming fragrance that smells either like a woody scent, tropical fruits, or a powdery musk with warm notes. But, the most “in-your-face’ smell comes from WoodWick by Yankee Candle. This particular candle smells good with its complex combination of crisp citrus, ocean minerals, and white sage top notes.
Conclusion
Soy wax, three-wick, and beeswax — no matter who you are or what your needs may be, there’s sure to be a scented candle for you. Much like perfumes and fragrances, scented candles come in different mixtures of aromas that range from unique to familiar to nostalgic. If you’re looking for one to spruce up your room, we hope this guide has helped you!
Editor’s Choice
DIPTYQUE BAIES/BERRIES SCENTED CANDLE
Candles often serve multiple functions: to make a room smell good and make it look good. The French brand Diptyque makes candles that are perfect both visually and sensually.
Spruce up your living area with their Baies scented candle, an undisputed bestseller, as their website calls it. It’s no surprise because a quick google search would show you this exact candle on more than one “best of” list.
Personally, I’m not a fan of candles that have an acquired scent. If you’re like me and prefer something that makes a solid first impression, then this is your pick.
We don’t know if it’s the light berry fragrance or the familiar rose notes that make this one a hit, but it’s definitely a group favorite. It’s best for common areas where everyone can enjoy it.
Joey is an AB Psychology graduate of the University of St. La Salle – Bacolod. Her life’s passions include writing, film, and spending hours on end binge-watching fashion vloggers on Youtube.
